17:20 Attendance figures for today are around 9,500 about 10% down on last year.
And that is it from the 2008 July Festival at Newmarket. Good night.
17:15 Some more reactions from the afternoon.
Frankie Dettori said three time Bunbury Cup winner Mine was “feeling his age” in his final run and he eased him to finish second last.
Trainer Mark Johnston was critical of the rule whereby horses who have to be blindfolded for stalls entry have to go in the stalls first.
He said, “it’s madness because a horse like that wants to go in last.
“We’ll probably step him back up to Pattern company so he’ll be running in smaller fields and he won’t be in the stalls so long.”
Returning to the big race, Aiden O’Brien was pleased with both his runners.
Speaking of the runner-up US Ranger he said, “He ran a good race and is really coming forward now.
“I don’t know where he will go next. He is in all the big sprints and we will take a look.
“The horse is starting to learn about sprinting.”
Speaking about Astronomer Royale he said, “He is another horse who is starting to get it together over sprint distances now.”
Seb Sanders, rider of Kingsgate Native commented, “He’s run somewhere near his Ascot form but when I asked the question he just did not pick up.”
17:00 So the meeting ends with the longest race of the day, the 1 mile 4 furlong Egerton House Stakes.
Cool Judgement was the well backed favourite and at times he looked to be the likely winner, yet he was never able to get his head in front.
Profit’s Reality took the lead after a furlong and ended up not being headed. Darryll Holland was able to keep the Paul Blockley trained gelding going despite being niggled by the favourite at the furlong marker.
To add to the favourites ignominy he was headed by the fast finishing Candle just before the line.
Those who backed the fourth placed Tifernati can feel aggrieved as the late withdrawal of Generous Gem bought the field down to fifteen and only three places in the betting.
16:35 The going is now Good to Soft following the earlier rain.
News from the Stewards room, Michael Hills picked up a two day ban for his July Cup ride on Prime Defender. He interfered with Diabolical and the Stewards deemed it to be careless riding.
16:25 At least the rain has stopped and the race was run in decent conditions. A seven furlong nursery where Measurement was sent off the 7/4 favourite.
It has to be said the favourite did not look to be that impressive in the early stages, having to be niggled along by Richard Hughes. However it can be argued that an unimpressive beginning can be more than compensated by an impressive finish and the Richard Hannon trained colt did eventually run on well under a hard drive from Hughes.
Bad Beat who had taken the lead inside the first was having a good battle with Fareer, until the favourite appeared. It was Fareer who won the private battle for second and he looks to be one to take from the race.
16:08 Sadly the idiots are also here today - we've just had a punch-up in the Premier enclosure behind the stands.
15:55 the latest race has just been run in the most appalling conditions I have seen on a racecourse in many a long time.
These two-year-olds, virtually all making their debut, had to endure driving rain, hail and thunder in this five furlong sprint. Indeed two of the runners, the favourite Zelloof and Al Sabaheya were so upset they went without them.
From a form perspective this is certainly a race to ignore as I am sure and indeed hope they will never encounter such conditions again.
For the record Sharpener under Ryan Moore set the pace tracked by Give, the only runner with racecourse experience, and Fantasia.
It was the latter, under Dane O’Neill who seemed least inconvenienced by conditions and he took the race by 3¼ lengths from Respite in second.
This was a race when the jockeys earned their money.
15:15 It was the big race of the week and it did not disappoint, bringing a thrilling finish with a good result for punters as the first three in the betting filled the first three places.
That does not tell the full story though, as the winner, French raider, Marchand D’Or was running on ground many considered too firm.
Kerrin McEvoy set the pace on War Artist, closely attended by Off The Record and Ballydoyle contender US Ranger.
The favourite started mid division then after two furlongs was plumb last with his jockey Davy Bonilla seeming unsure where to go, before opting to line up on the stand side.
Ascot winner Kingsgate Native, a negative in the betting, seemed to make a challenge just before the final furlong but it came to nothing.
The favourite meanwhile launched his challenge alongside the stand rail, whilst up front War Artist was being challenged by US Ranger looking to give Aiden O’Brien his 13th group one of the season.
The favourite was coming with a well timed run though and he managed to get his head in front just on the line, although judge Alastair Stewart had to call on the camera to decide the result.
Winning trainer Freddie Head was delighted, having ridden the winner of this race in 1996.
The next planned race for the winner will be at Deauville, the Prix Maurice Gheest.
14:40 Racing is full of “if only” moments and this years Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup is one of those races.
The record will show that Little White Lie just held off the challenge of Lovelace in a driving finish. That does not tell the full story. Lovelace was restless in the stalls and missed the break, consequently ending up in last in the early stages.
That Ryan Moore was able to sixteen of his seventeen rivals speaks volumes for the horses ability.
As always we had a competitive race for this big handicap.
Zaahid was sent off the well backed 9/2 favourite but was never sighted.
Little White Lie was to the fore throughout the race and took the lead inside the final furlong with Regal Parade, Mastership and last years winner Giganticus all challenging.
However it was Lovelace who was charging home as if he had an Exocet inserted up his backside, with what must be the most eye catching run of the week
14:15 Finally after two hours of speculation Utmost Respect has been taken out of the July Cup.
The jockeys are reporting the ground is riding on the fast side of good.
14:05 Our first group race of the afternoon and the O’Brien / Murtagh favourite, Grand Ducal, only managed fourth.
The race went to Firth Of Fifth under an inspired Richard Kingscote ride. Setting the pace from the start he managed to slip his field and the challengers were unable to catch him despite their best efforts.
Second favourite Weald Park, under Richard Hughes ran on from mid division to take the runners-up spot but was unable to catch the winner.
Shaweel, who finished third, caught the eye. Settled near the rear Greg Fairley launched a challenge two out but the colt didn’t seem to like the sticky going and could not deliver a decisive blow.
Richard hannon, trainer of the runner-up, is aiming his charge for the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
13:35 It was sweet success for Henry Candy in the opening race as his Duntulm under Dane O’Neil managed to get the better of a dual with Ken Ivory’s Ellemujie in a ding-dong battle to the line.
With nineteen runners they were spread across the course for most of the race before drifting to the middle / far side of the course.
Duntulm provided a good start for favourite backers, despite it being a very open betting heat.
There was no clear leader in the race although Latin Lad, Al Muheer and Unbreak My Heart were all prominent in the early stages.
As has often happened this week those fighting the finish emerged from the pack and it was Ellemujie who had first run. However Duntulm was quick to follow and the dual soon developed with the victor getting his head in front on the line.
The minor places also went to running on horses with Relative Order taking third and Stevie Thunder fourth.
Flawed Genius under Ryan moor looked to be in contention a furlong from home but he failed to respond to Ryan Moore’s vigorous persuasion along the far rail.
Henry Candy said the winner "loved the ground out there today," reporting the horse was "jarred up by the fast ground at Haydock last time."
"There are no plans for him at the moment. He will not get an inch beyond a mile and we may look at a shorter trip.
"I haven't put him in at Goodwood. The ground is usually fast there and the hills won't suit him."
12:45 There is some confusion here on-course. Some of my colleagues are reporting Richard Fahey has pulled Utmost Respect out of the July Cup due to the going. Yet there has been no official announcement and until there is we have to assume the horse is running. He has drifted out to 20’s on Betfair though.
Not an ideal situation I must admit.
On the weather front it is certainly more cloudy than a couple of hours ago, however it is still currently dry.
12:00 In the Bunbury Cup Zaahid is attracting some support. Available at 5/1 with the race sponsors Ladbrokes, most other firms are going 9/2/
With the going changing to Good, support for French raider Marchand D’Or in The July Cup has been drifting. Available yesterday at 11/4 he can now be backed at 7/2.
11:15 Good morning from Newmarket where the going is officially Good
However I would say where the ground has been cut up it still feels rather claggy underfoot - I have just had to scrape some mud off my shoes.
The forecast is for showers after lunch with more prolonged rain later on, although the worse of the rain is expected after racing.
At the moment I would say there is more blue sky than cloudy, however there are some nasty grey clouds forming upwind.
09:20 A few more non-runners, with a variety of reasons.
07:30 We have the first few non-runners, two with vet's certificates and two on account of the going.
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Non-Runners
2:35
7 King's Apostle (going)
19 Pawan (colic)
3:10
5 Les Arcs (going)
10 Utmost Respect (going)
13 Seachange (going)
3:45
2 Arctic Freedom (lame)
4:20
3 Uramazin (going)
7 Hay Fever (not eaten up)
12 Liturgical (off colour)
4:55
1 John Terry (going)
Results
1:30
1st 8 Duntulm 7/1 fav
2nd 18 Ellemujie 40/1
3rd 15 Relative Order 20/1
4th 12 Stevie Thunder 12/1
19 Ran
Distances short head & 2 3/4L
Tote
Win £9.00
Place £2.30 £8.40 £5.80 £2.60
Exacta £374.90
2:00 Superlative Stakes
1st 2 Firth Of Fifth 8/1
2nd 8 Weald Park 9/2
3rd 7 Shaweel 13/2
9 Ran
Distances 1 1/4L & neck
Tote
Win £8.60
Place £2.40 £1.70 £2.60
Exacta £51.80
2:35 Bunbury Cup
1st 15 Little White Lie 14/1
2nd 2 Lovelace 15/2
3rd 18 Regal Parade 12/1
4th 20 Mastership 14/1
18 Ran NR's 7 & 19
Distances head & 1L
Tote
Win £15.70
Place £3.10 £2.20 £3.50 £3.40
Exacta £143.80
3:10 July Cup
1st 6 Marchand D'Or 5/2 fav
2nd 9 US Ranger 9/2
3rd 11 War Artist 11/2
13
Ran NR's 5 ,10 & 13
Distances head & 1/2L
Tote
Win £3.50
Place £1.20 £2.00 £2.20
Exacta £15.10
3:45
1st 4 Fantasia 7/1
2nd 8 Respite 9/2
3rd 9 Sharpener 5/1
8 Ran NR 2 W/D 1 & 11
Rule 4 deduct 25p in the £
Distances 3 1/4L & 1/ L
Tote
Win £6.50
Place £1.70 £1.40 £1.70
Exacta £24.30
4:20
1st 6 Meaentsure 7/4 fav
2nd 8 Fareer 4/1
3rd 2 Bad beat 12/1
10 Ran NR's 3 , 7 & 12
Distances 1/2L 2 1/2L
Tote
Win £2.60
Place £1.40 £1.80 £3.70
Exacta £9.40
4:55
1st 5 Profit's Reality 14/1
2nd 4 Candle 8/1
3rd 13 Cool Judgenent 13/8 fav
15 Ran NR 1 W/D 10
No Rule 4
Distances 1/2L & Short head
Tote
Win £19.50
Place £5.80 £2.60 £1.50
Exacta £177.60
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